“It is,” he growled.
“Yeah. But it’s clear you know shit about being married. A year hasn’t made me a huge expert, but one thing I can tell you is that if Deke ever threatened me the way you just did her, we’d be doing ten rounds of verbal smackdown in the parking lot.”
Kimber had heard that? Damn . . .
Tyler coughed to smother a laugh. Deke pressed his lips together and turned away in a futile attempt not to burst out laughing. Hunter threw them both a killing glare.
Maybe Kimber was right, but Kata was independent, stubborn. She’d never admit to needing his help to stay safe. Begging her to accept his protection would likely fall on deaf ears, even though she could have been killed tonight. Besides, as Hunter glanced around at the crime scene, he got a bad feeling. Things weren’t adding up.
“Kitten,” Deke said to Kimber. “Kata’s been shot at, and you know how we men are about protecting our wives.”
“I’m totally familiar with testosterone overload. But if Kata’s just been attacked, she needs comfort and kindness, not someone threatening to tie her to the bed.”
“It’s not the tactic I would have taken,” Deke admitted. “But—”
“Bullshit,” Tyler chimed in. “You’d tie Kimber to the bed for just about any reason.”
“True enough.” Deke repressed a smile as he met his wife’s stare, then sobered again. “Kata thinks she’s going back to work before we know why someone is trying to kill her and, in Hunter’s shoes, I’d do whatever necessary to keep my wife safe, too.”
“Because threatening her after she’s just been threatened makes so much sense.” Kimber rolled her eyes, looking like her patience was about to unravel. “Can I talk to you for a minute, Hunter? Alone?”
He sighed. Kimber’s question was code for: Can I chew your ass out in private? But he figured he’d either pay now or pay in spades later. Whatever his and Kimber’s differences had been in the past, he loved his sister. If she wanted to talk, hell, he’d listen.
“You going to be okay for a minute?” he asked Kata, smoothing a gentle palm down her back.
“I’ve been insisting for a while now that I’ll be fine.” Kata braced her hands on her hips and raised her chin.
Even her pose didn’t mitigate how vulnerable and afraid she looked. Shaky. Rattled. Worry torqued his gut. Why was the woman being so stubborn? She said she’d seen enough of controlling men to last her a lifetime and likened him to her stepfather. But he couldn’t afford to ease up now, not with such a short time line before he returned to active duty and with a killer on the loose.
He nodded. “Sit down, honey. I’ll be right back.”
“As soon as Detective Montrose is done with me, I’m going home and going to bed.”
“Not alone. And not before you know whether someone dangerous might be at your place, too, waiting for you.”
Kata hesitated, and Hunter knew that possibility hadn’t crossed her mind. That fact alone told him that keeping her close, safe, protected, was the right move—even if she didn’t like it. Without someone able to watch her back, she could be dead.
“This wasn’t a random attack,” he pointed out. “Why would some killer assume there’d be anyone to target in the probation office on a Sunday? Your car is the only one in the employee lot, honey. He knew you were here and alone.”
“But how? You were the only person who knew I was here.”
Hunter reared back. The implied accusation was far worse than a slap. “I was on a plane,” he ground out, “talking to you from the moment you told me the address to your office until I heard gunfire over the line. How the hell would I have told anyone besides Deke and Tyler where to find you in those, what? Two minutes? Why would I call them to save you if I wanted you dead?”
God, he was pissed. Blazingly, furiously pissed. Not necessarily at Kata—though he couldn’t claim to be thrilled, either—but at the situation. If she thought for a second that he’d be capable of sending a killer after her, they had bigger trust issues than he’d thought.
Regret tightened Kata’s face. “You’re right. That doesn’t make sense. I’m sorry. I’m just . . .” She bit her lip, fighting tears. “I’m a little scared.”
Hunter didn’t want to scare her more, but he did want her to see reason. “I know. My theory is that this guy followed you from your apartment. Whoever wants you dead knows where you live. I want to make you safe again.” He turned to the other men for backup. “Tyler, Deke, you know she can’t go home alone.”
“No chance in hell.” Tyler crossed his arms over his chest and stood in front of Kata, effectively blocking her path to the parking lot. “Hunter’s right, baby.”
Hunter didn’t like the other man’s endearment directed at his wife. But before he could take Tyler’s head off, Kimber grabbed Hunter by the arm and dragged him about twenty feet away.
“Are you hearing yourself?” she hissed.
“Yeah, I stated a fact. She can’t go home alone until we know it’s safe.”
“Maybe, but it’s the way you said it.” Kimber smacked her forehead with her palm. “Damn, you’re thickheaded, Hunter. But I know you would have never married anyone, much less a virtual stranger, unless you were sure she was the one.”